Kingston Milling Company

The nexus of Kingston's downtown and the outer harbour led to the rise of Kingston's transshipment economy: lumber, grain, coal were among the commodities that comprised Kingston's commerce in the 19th century and later. It seems incomprehensible today that within this now-tourist area along Ontario Street, that large quantities of grain were brought here - for transshipment to local farmers, for milling to flour, and from local farms to the lakes and beyond. Kitty-corner to City Hall was this rambling grain operation, perhaps best known as the Kingston Milling Company, established in 1884. With painted signs showing tickets, steamboats and tours, this south end of the building was at one time a ticket office and waiting room. Two closeups captioned circa 1880s from an online auction site:

Above are two archival photos I used for prototype inspiration. CPR 424 poses in front during switching. An aerial view shows a spur leading to the building:

Two images from a 1911 fire insurance map do not show an earlier spur that served the lakeside of the operation, but do show the one closer to Ontario Street serving a shed labeled 'hay storage'. The three-part building later had a wooden third storey added for storage (dark blue outline):

Descriptions of the operation from the Whig. Nov 16. 1912:

Aug. 12, 1919

Another advertising feature, undated:

Somebody was fortunate enough to find an original flour bag. Hungarian and White Rose were two of the Kingston Milling Co.'s best-known flour brands. 'Hungarian' refers to the milling process used -developed in Hungary in the 1800s and brought to North America in the final quarter of the 19th century.

A 1920 advertisement:

A 1934 listing of flour mills shows that the operation could produce 150 barrels of flour per day. This operation was located behind the Ontario Street fire station, almost abutting it. That means the fire hall will be my next modelling project. A 1937 Whig clipping also connects the two:

The site was owned by the Allinson family since 1945, home to various businesses, including Brais & Brais General Contractors, Chapman Hardware and (W.J.) Allinson Farm Equipment. One could buy tractor chains, barn ventilators, chain saws, snowblowers, roto-tillers and water bowls for cattle! Whig ad, 1969 (below). In that year, barn and industrial parts were moved to their location on Highway 15, with lawn and small-motor machinery being sold from 237 Ontario Street.

In 1971, Smith Garden & Sporting Supplies was on the site. It's now occupied by the Confederation Place Hotel, built in 1978.